MGM Springfield Prepares For Sports Betting Action

This fall is an exciting time for sports fans in Western Massachusetts. From the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2022 induction at Springfield’s Symphony Hall, to the anticipation of in-person sports betting at MGM Springfield, there is a lot to look forward to.

Massachusetts sports betting became legal in early August when the governor signed a bill that allows the activity at the state’s three casinos. The bill also legalized online sports betting. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission and state politicians are in the midst of enacting the law’s formal regulations, a process that also includes public meetings. The commission also needs to process licensing approval for the over 40 companies expressing interest in offering sports wagering in the state.

While there is no official date for when fans can start placing bets, MGM Springfield is primed and ready to open its retail sportsbook as soon as those regulations are formalized.

State Of The Art Facility

Built in 2018 in a downtown complex of historic buildings, MGM Springfield is already home to a full range of amenities in a mixed-use development. The property features a hotel, retail shops, and a 125,000-square-foot gaming floor with 2,550 slot machines, 20 table games, and a high-limit VIP lounge. As it stands today, the state receives 25% of the casino’s gross revenues.

MGM Springfield has two state-of-the-art lounges ready to welcome sports betting customers. The larger sports lounge closely resembles those in Las Vegas casinos. The design includes 70 theater-style seats and a huge wall of high-definition monitors for watching live sports. In addition, the lounge will have an island bar.

Located on the main casino floor, MGM Springfield’s TAP Sports Bar will also have a sports wagering area.

Economic Boost Adds To Excitement

While sports fans who enjoy wagering will no doubt enjoy being able to place bets in person, the local economy should also get a boost. When it was built, MGM Springfield provided a financial boost to a depressed area that had been hard hit by a tornado in 2011. The casino opened to the fanfare and blessing of local politicians, and created a few thousand jobs. Like other casinos in the state, it shut down for several months in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the economic recovery from the pandemic progresses nationwide, the casino is steadily increasing its workforce. Political proponents of the new sports wagering law expect an increase in jobs as casinos can now legally widen their betting offerings.

Sen. Eric Lesser, the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, celebrated the law with a rosy outlook on employment opportunities for area job seekers.

“This new law will give residents new ways to engage with sports, generate new jobs and investment, and includes some of the strongest consumer and player safeguards in the country.”

With college football already underway, the NFL on tap, and the NBA season set to start in mid-October, it should be a busy time for MGM Springfield when the state’s gaming commission finalizes the rules of the new sports betting law.